On Lord, I have cried…, 4 stichera of the resurrection, in Tone V—

By Thy precious Cross didst Thou put the devil to shame, O Christ, and by Thy resurrection didst Thou break the sting of sin, and hast saved us from the gates of death. We glorify Thee, O Only-begotten One!

He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, bestowing resurrection upon the human race; and the princes of hades were afraid of Him, and the gates of weeping were seized, for Christ, the King of glory, entered in, saying to those in bonds: “Come forth!” and to those in darkness: “Show yourselves!”

Great is the wonder! The immortal Creator of the invisible hosts, suffering in the flesh in His love for mankind, hath risen! Come, ye kindreds of the nations, let us worship Him! For, having been delivered from deception by His compassions, we have learned to hymn the one God in three Hypostases!

We offer evening worship at the culmination of the ages unto Thee, the never-waning Light, Who in the flesh shone forth upon the world as in a mirror, Who descended even unto hades and destroyed the darkness there, and showed the nations the light of the resurrection. O Lord, Bestower of light, glory be to Thee!

Glory…, in Tone V—

Walking past on the way, O Lord, Thou didst come upon a man blind from birth, and the disciples, amazed, asked Thee, saying: “O Teacher, who sinned: this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?” And Thou, O my Savior, didst cry out to them: “Neither did this man sin, nor did his parents, but this happened that the works of God might be revealed in him. I must needs do the works of Him Who sent me, which no one else can do.” And having thus said, Thou didst spit upon the ground, and making clay, didst anoint his eyes therewith, saying to him: “Go and wash in the Pool of Siloam.” And when he had washed, he became whole, and cried out to Thee: “I believe, O Lord, and I worship Thee!” Wherefore, we also cry out: Have mercy on us!

Now & ever…: Dogmatic theotokion, in the same tone—

Let us honor the godly and precious Maiden who is honored by the cherubim; for the Creator of all, desiring to become man, ineffably made His abode within her. O strange things and mysteries most glorious! Who doth not marvel on hearing that God became man, yet underwent no change within Himself? He passed through the gate of the Virgin, yet he suffered no diminution therein. As the prophet said: Then shall no man pass through it, save the Lord God of Israel, Who hath great mercy.

Aposticha stichera, in Tone V—

With sounds of hymnody do we magnify Thee, Christ the Savior, Who hast not been separated from the heavens; for Thou didst accept the Cross and death for our race, as the Lord Who loveth mankind, Who hath overthrown the gates of hades, and hath risen on the third day, saving our souls.

And these stichera of the Theotokos, in the same tone: Special Melody: Rejoice…—

Stichos: I shall commemorate thy name in every generation and generation.

Rejoice, O seal of the prophets, preaching of the divinely eloquent apostles! For Thou didst truly give birth unto He Who Is, Who became incarnate for us in manner past understanding and description; and as we have regained our ancient nobility and received the sweetness of paradise through Him, with hymns we honor thee, the cause of such radiance; we are enriched by thee, the right acceptable advocate, O most holy one, by eternally receiving the life of thy Son, Who richly bestoweth great mercy upon us.

Stichos: Hearken, O daughter, and see, and incline thine ear.

Rejoice, O heaven of the Word, wherein God, becoming incarnate, made His dwelling, O jar of Manna divine, lamp-stand of the Sun, mountain of God overshadowed, chamber which held God, life-bestowing table, golden candlestick, radiant paradise, bush unconsumed, ark of holiness, heavenly ladder, animate staff sprung forth from the womb of Jesse! O Virgin, entreat Christ, that our souls be granted great mercy.

Stichos: The rich among the people shall entreat thy countenance.

Rejoice, O most immaculate one, who didst ineffably conceive the Son of God and gavest birth to Him, Who from thy blood truly received flesh like ours, Who hath an intelligent and independent soul, and in His ineffable mercy and goodness freely clothed Himself in Adam! Wherefore, He is declared unto us to be the Christ: in two natures, showing forth in Himself the activity of both. Him do thou entreat, that He grant great mercy unto those who hymn thee.

Glory…, in Tone VIII—

O Christ God, Thou Sun of righteousness, Who by Thine all-pure touch didst bring light to both eyes of him Who from the womb had been deprived of light, and hast illumined the eyes of our souls, show us to be children of the day, that we may cry out to Thee with faith: Great and ineffable is Thy compassion for us! Glory to Thee Who lovest mankind!

Now & ever…, in Tone V—

Thou art the temple and portal, the palace and throne of the King, O most honored Virgin, through whom Christ the Lord, my Deliverer, Who is the Sun of righteousness, hath revealed Himself unto those who sleep in darkness, desiring to enlighten that which He fashioned in His image by His own hand. Wherefore, O most hymned one, as thou hast acquired maternal boldness before Him, entreat Him without ceasing, that our souls be saved.

And the rest as usual.

After the Introductory Psalm, we chant Blessed is the man…, the first antiphon.

On Lord, I have cried…, 10 stichera: 7 of the resurrection, in Tone V—

By Thy precious Cross Thou didst put the devil to shame, O Christ, and by Thy resurrection didst Thou break the sting of sin, and hast saved us from the gates of death. We glorify Thee, O Only-begotten One!

He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, bestowing resurrection upon the human race; and the princes of hades were afraid of Him, and the gates of weeping were seized, for Christ, the King of glory, entered in, saying to those in bonds: “Come forth!” and to those in darkness: “Show yourselves!”

Great is the wonder! The immortal Creator of the invisible hosts, suffering in the flesh in His love for mankind, hath risen! Come, ye kindreds of the nations, let us worship Him! For, having been delivered from deception by His compassions, we have learned to hymn the one God in three Hypostases!

We offer evening worship at the culmination of the ages unto Thee, the never-waning Light, Who in the flesh shone forth upon the world as in a mirror, Who descended even unto hades and destroyed the darkness there, and showed the nations the light of the resurrection. O Lord, Bestower of light, glory be to Thee!

Let us glorify Christ, the Author of our salvation; for when He rose from the dead, the world was saved from deception, the choir of the angels rejoiced, the beguilement of the demons was banished, fallen Adam arose, and the devil was set at naught.

The guardsmen were instructed by the iniquitous: “Keep secret the rising of Christ; take the pieces of silver, and say that while we slept the dead man was stolen from the tomb.” Who hath ever seen or heard of a corpse, and moreover one embalmed and naked, stolen, and the grave clothes left behind in the tomb? Be ye not deceived, O Jews! Learn the sayings of the prophets, and know that He is truly almighty, the Deliverer of the world!

O Lord our Savior, Who madest hades captive, trampled down death, and hast enlightened the world by Thy Cross: Have mercy upon us!

And 3 stichera of the Blind Man: Idiomela, in Tone II—

In his mind the man born blind said: “Can I have been born blind because of the sins of my parents? Or have I been born blind as a reproach to the unbelief of the gentiles? I cannot tell when I should ask: Is it day, is it night? I can no longer bear to stumble over stones, for I have not beheld the sun shining, nor Him Who created me in His image. Yet do I beseech Thee, O Christ God: Look down upon me and have mercy on me!” Twice

Walking past from the Temple, Jesus came upon a man blind from birth, and taking pity, applied clay to his eyes, and said to him: “Go and wash in Siloam.” And when he had washed, he gained his sight, rendering glory unto God. And his neighbors said unto him: “Who hath opened thine eyes, which none of the sighted hath been able to heal?” And he, crying out, said: “A man named Jesus said to me: ‘Wash thou in Siloam,’ and I was given sight. He is truly the One of Whom Moses spake in the Law: the Messiah and the Christ. He is the Savior of our souls!”

Glory…, in Tone V—

Walking past on the way, O Lord, Thou didst come upon a man blind from birth, and the disciples, amazed, asked Thee, saying: “O Teacher, who sinned: this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?” And Thou, O my Savior, didst cry out to them: “Neither did this man sin, nor did his parents, but this happened that the works of God might be revealed in him. I must needs do the works of Him Who sent me, which no one else can do.” And having thus said, Thou didst spit upon the ground, and making clay, didst anoint his eyes therewith, saying to him: “Go and wash in the Pool of Siloam.” And when he had washed, he became whole, and cried out to Thee: “I believe, O Lord, and I worship Thee!” Wherefore, we also cry out: Have mercy upon us!

Now & ever…: Dogmaticon, in Tone V—

Once, the image of the Bride who knoweth not wedlock was inscribed in the Red Sea. There Moses was the parter of the waters; and here Gabriel is the minister of a miracle. There Israel traversed the deep dryshod; and now the Virgin giveth birth unto Christ without seed. The sea remained impassable after Israel had crossed; and the immaculate one remaineth incorrupt after the birth of Emmanuel. O God Who hast appeared as a man, Who existeth and hast existed from the beginning: Have mercy upon us!

Entrance. Prokimenon of the day.

At Litia, the sticheron of the temple; and, Glory…, in Tone IV—

Considering his whole life to be night, the blind man cried out to Thee, O Lord: “Open mine eyes, O our Savior, Son of David, that I also, with everyone else, may hymn Thy power!”

Now & ever…: Theotokion, in the same tone—

Mercifully regard the supplications of thy servants, O all-immaculate one, quelling the uprisings of the cruel demons against us, delivering us from every sorrow; for thee alone have we as a steadfast and sure confirmation, and we have acquired thine intercession; let not us who call upon thee be put to shame, O Mistress. Haste thou to answer the entreaty of those who cry out to thee with faith: Rejoice, thou help, joy and protection of all, and salvation of our souls!

Aposticha sticheron of the resurrection, in Tone V—

With sounds of hymnody do we magnify Thee, Christ the Savior, Who hast not been separated from the heavens; for Thou didst accept the Cross and death for our race, as the Lord Who loveth mankind, Who hath overthrown the gates of hades, and hath risen on the third day, saving our souls.

Then, the Paschal stichera, with their refrains, in Tone V—

Stichos: Let God arise, and let His enemies be scattered.

Today hath a sacred Pascha been shown unto us: a new and holy Pascha, a mystical Pascha, a Pascha all-venerable, Pascha—Christ the Redeemer, an unblemished Pascha, a great Pascha, a Pascha of the faithful, a Pascha which openeth unto us the gates of paradise, a Pascha which sanctifieth all the faithful!

Stichos: As smoke vanisheth, so let them vanish.

O ye women proclaimers of good tidings, come ye from the sight of Christ and say ye unto Sion: “Receive from us good tidings of the joy of the resurrection of Christ! Delight thyself, dance and rejoice, O Jerusalem, having beheld Christ the King issuing forth like a bridegroom from the tomb!”

Stichos: So let sinners perish at the presence of God, and let the righteous be glad.

At late dawn, the myrrh-bearing women stood before the tomb of the Giver of life and found an angel seated upon the stone; and he, addressing them, spake thus: “Why seek ye the Living among the dead? Why lament ye the Incorrupt as amid corruption? Go forth and proclaim this to His disciples!”

Stichos: This is the day that the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad therein.

A delightful Paschal Pascha, the Lord’s Pascha, an all-venerable Pascha hath shone forth on us. It is Pascha: let us embrace one another with joy! O Pascha, ransom from sorrow! For Christ, having shone forth today from the tomb, as from a bridal-chamber, filled the women with joy, saying: “Proclaim this to the apostles!”

Glory…, in Tone VIII—

O Christ God, Thou Sun of righteousness, Who by Thine all-pure touch didst bring light to both eyes of him who from the womb had been deprived of light, and hast illumined the eyes of our souls, show us to be children of the day, that we may cry out to Thee with faith: Great and ineffable is Thy compassion for us! Glory to Thee Who lovest mankind!

Now & ever…, in Tone V—

It is the day of the resurrection! Let us adorn ourselves with the splendor of the festival and embrace one another! And let us say, O brethren, even unto those who hate us: “Let us forgive all things at the resurrection, and thus let us cry out: Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life!”

Then, Christ is risen…, once. And, Now lettest Thou Thy servant depart…

Resurrectional troparion, in Tone V—

O ye faithful, let us hymn and worship the Word, Who with the Father and the Spirit is equally without beginning, and Who was born of the Virgin for our salvation; for He was well pleased to ascend the Cross in the flesh, to endure death, and to raise up the dead by His glorious resurrection.

Theotokion: Rejoice, impassable gate of the Lord! Rejoice, rampart and protection of those who have recourse unto thee! Rejoice, haven untouched by storms, thou who knowest not wedlock, who gavest birth in the flesh to thy Creator and God! Fail not in thy supplications for those who hymn and worship thy birthgiving!

If vigil is not served, at Nocturns we chant the Canon of the Trinity from the Octoechos, in Tone V. Then, It is truly meet…, and the rest as usual. Dismissal.

At God is the Lord…, the resurrectional troparion, in Tone V, twice; Glory…, Now & ever…: the resurrectional theotokion, in the same tone.

After the first chanting of the Psalter, these sessional hymns of the resurrection, in Tone V—

We praise the Cross of the Lord, we honor His holy burial with hymns, and we greatly glorify His resurrection, for as God with Himself He raised the dead up from the graves, having captured the dominion of death and the might of the devil; and He shone light upon those in hades.

Stichos: Arise, O Lord my God, let Thy hand be lifted high; forget not Thy paupers to the end.

Declared to be dead, O Lord Who didst slay death, Thou wast laid in a tomb, O Thou Who didst empty the graves. Above, soldiers kept guard over Thy sepulcher, while below Thou didst raise up the dead from ages past. O almighty and unapproachable Lord, glory be to Thee!

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion—

Rejoice, O holy mountain trodden by God! Rejoice, animate bush which was not consumed! Rejoice, bridge to God for the world, who alone beareth mortals to everlasting life! Rejoice, incorrupt Maiden who without knowing man gavest birth unto the Salvation of our souls.

After the second chanting of the Psalter, these resurrectional sessional hymns, in Tone V—

O Lord, the iniquitous nailed Thee in the midst of condemned criminals, and pierced Thy side with a spear, O Merciful One! Thou didst accept burial, Who didst break down the gates of hades, and didst rise again on the third day. The women hastened to behold Thee, and announced Thine arising to the apostles. O supremely exalted Savior, Whom the angels hymn, O blessed Lord, glory be to Thee!

Stichos: I will confess Thee, O Lord, with my whole heart, I will tell of all Thy wonders.

O my Savior, Thy strange mystery became salvation to the world; for rising as God from the tomb, as God Thou didst raise up with Thyself those who were corrupted. O Lord, Thou Life of all, glory to Thee!

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion—

O Theotokos, unwedded Bride, who hast transformed the grief of Eve into joy, we, the faithful, hymn and bow down before thee, for thou hast led us out of the ancient curse. And now, pray thou unceasingly, O most hymned and all-holy one, that we be saved.

Reading from the interpretation of the Gospel of St. John by St. John Chrysostom, homilies 56-58.

After Blessed is the blameless…, the troparia, The assembly of the angels…, and the rest as usual.

And straightway, the hypacoï, in Tone V—

Troubled in mind by the appearance of the angel, yet enlightened in soul by the divine resurrection, the myrrh-bearing women announced to the apostles: “Tell among the nations the resurrection of the Lord Who worketh miracles and granteth us great mercy!”

Songs of ascent, in Tone V, the verses being repeated—

Antiphon I

When I am filled with sorrow, I sing unto Thee like David, O my Savior: Deliver my soul from a lying tongue.

Blessed is the life of those in the wilderness, who soar aloft on wings of love divine.

Glory…: By the Holy Spirit are sustained all things, visible and invisible; for, Himself possessed of dominion, He is truly One of the Trinity.

Now & ever…: The foregoing is repeated.

Antiphon II

Let us ascend to the mountains, O my soul, and go thither, from whence cometh our help.

Let Thy right hand, which toucheth me, O Christ, preserve me from all deception.

Glory…: Theologizing concerning the Holy Spirit, let us say: Thou art God, life, love, light and understanding! Thou art goodness, and Thou reignest forever!

Now & ever…: The foregoing is repeated.

Antiphon III

Full of great joy, I send up supplications for those who have said to me: Let us enter into the courts of the Lord.

Awesome things are wrought in the house of David; for there is found the fire which burneth up every shameful thought.

Glory…: To the Holy Spirit, by Whom every living thing is made animate, is due the dignity of the Bestower of life, as to the Father and the Word.

Now & ever…: The foregoing is repeated.

Prokimenon, in Tone V—

Arise, O Lord my God, let Thy hand be lifted high; for Thou shalt be King forever.

Stichos: I will confess Thee, O Lord, with my whole heart. I will tell of all Thy wonders.

Let every breath praise the Lord.

Gospel According to John, §64 [20:11-18]

At that time, Mary stood without at the sepulcher weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulcher, and saw two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. And they say unto her: “Woman, why weepest thou?” She saith unto them: “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid Him.” And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus said unto her: “Woman, why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou?” She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said unto Him: “Sir, if thou hast borne Him hence, tell me where thou hast laid Him, and I will take Him away.” Jesus said unto her: “Mary.” She turned herself, and said unto Him: “Rabboni”; which is to say, Master. Jesus said unto her: “Touch Me not; for I am not yet ascended to My Father: but go to My brethren, and say unto them: I ascend unto My Father, and your Father; and to My God, and your God.” Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things unto her.

Then, Having beheld the resurrection of Christ…, thrice. Psalm 50, and the rest.

Canon of Pascha, with 8 troparia, including the irmos and theotokion; and that of the Blind Man, with 6 troparia.

Ode I

Canon of Pascha

Irmos: It is the day of Resurrection! Let us shine with splendor, O ye peoples! Pascha, the Pascha of the Lord! For from death to life and from earth to heaven hath Christ God led us over who sing a hymn of victory.

Let us purify our senses, and with the unapproachable light of the resurrection we shall behold Christ, shining forth with brilliance; and singing a hymn of victory, we shall clearly hear Him saying: “Rejoice.”

Let the heavens be glad as is meet, and let the earth rejoice; and let the whole world, both visible and invisible, keep festival, for Christ, our eternal Gladness, hath risen.

Canon of the Theotokos

Thou didst shatter the bounds of mortality, O most immaculate one who gavest birth to eternal Life—Christ Who hath shone forth today from the tomb and enlightened the world.

Having beheld thy Son and God risen, rejoice with the apostles, O pure one, full of the grace of God; for as the cause of joy for all thou wast first to receive the salutation “Rejoice!” O most immaculate Mother of God.

Canon of the Blind Man, in Tone V—

Irmos: The land whereon the sun had never shone, and which it had never beheld, and the sea-bed which the expanse of heaven had never seen laid bare, did Israel cross dryshod, O Lord; and Thou didst lead them to the mountain of Thy holiness, as they gave praise and chanted a hymn of victory.

Accepting voluntary crucifixion in the flesh, O Savior, Thou didst pour forth blessing and life upon the world, O only most blessed Master and Creator of all; wherefore, we bless, hymn and glorify Thee, chanting and singing a hymn of victory.

In an underground pit did the noble Joseph lay Thee, Who wast dead, O Christ, and he rolled a stone over the entry of the tomb, O Long-suffering One; but Thou didst arise, O Glorious One, and with Thyself didst raise the world, which chanteth and singeth a hymn of victory.

“Why bring ye myrrh with tears?” said the angel who appeared to the honored women; “Christ hath risen! Make haste and tell the God-seeing disciples, who are lamenting and weeping, that they may leap up and dance with splendor.” Working all-glorious wonders, the Deliverer healed even a man blind from birth, anointing him with clay, and saying: “Go and wash in Siloam, that Thou mightest recognize Me as God walking the earth, wearing flesh in the lovingkindness of My compassions.”

Triadicon: Worshipping the one Nature in three Hypostases, O ye faithful, let us glorify the Father, the Son and the upright Spirit: the Creator, Lord and Deliverer of all, the only uncreated God; and let us cry out with the incorporeal beings: Holy, Holy, Holy art Thou, O King!

Theotokion: In the lovingkindness of His compassions the Lord made His dwelling in thy womb which knew not wedlock, O pure one, desiring to save corrupted man from the wiles of the enemy. Wherefore, entreat Him, that He save this city from all captivity and enemy invasion.

Katavasia of Ascension: To God the Savior alone, Who led His people in the sea with dryshod feet and drowned Pharaoh and all his army, let us chant, for He is glorious.

Ode III

Canon of Pascha

Irmos: Come, let us drink a new drink, not one miraculously sprung from a barren rock; but the Fount of incorruption—Christ Who poured forth from the tomb, in Whom we are established.

Now have all things been filled with light—heaven and earth, and the nether regions. Let all creation, therefore, celebrate the rising of Christ, wherein it hath been established.

Yesterday I was buried with Thee, O Christ; today I rise with Thee Who art risen. Yesterday I was crucified with Thee. Do Thou Thyself glorify me with Thee, O Savior, in Thy kingdom.

Canon of the Theotokos

I am come today unto life incorruptible, O pure one, through the goodness of Him Who was born of thee and hath shone forth light upon all the ends of the earth.

Having beheld God to Whom thou gavest birth in the flesh risen from the dead, as He said, O pure one, dance thou, and magnify Him as God, O all-pure one.

Canon of the Blind Man

Irmos: O Lord, make steadfast my heart, which is buffeted by the waves of life, guiding it into calm harbor, in that Thou art God.

By Thy crucifixion Thou didst endure in the flesh, O Long-suffering One Who didst cause the whole earth to shake, Thou hast made steadfast the hearts of those who are shaken.

The noble Joseph placed Thee in a new sepulcher, O Compassionate One, and Thou didst rise from the dead on the third day, O Thou Who hast made us new.

“Why seek ye the Lord as one dead? He hath risen, as He said,” the angel, whose divine countenance shone with radiance, announced to the women.

Thou once didst heal the man blind from birth, who approached Thee, O most Compassionate One, and who glorifieth Thy dispensation and wonders.

Triadicon: We worship God the Father all-unoriginate, and the Son, and the divine Spirit: the threefold, uncreated Being, the one God of all, in three Hypostases.

Theotokion: From thy virgin womb thou gavest birth to the incarnate God, O most holy Mistress. Him do thou entreat, that He have pity on us.

Katavasia: By the power of Thy Cross, O Christ, establish Thou my mind, that I may hymn and glorify Thy saving ascension.

Kontakion of Pascha, in Tone VIII—

Though Thou didst descend even into the tomb, O Immortal One, yet didst Thou destroy the power of hades, and didst rise as victor, O Christ God, proclaiming to the myrrh-bearing women: “Rejoice!” bestowing peace upon Thine apostles, and granting resurrection to the fallen.

Ikos: The myrrh-bearing maidens forestalled the dawn, seeking, like the day, the Sun Who existed before the sun and once set in the tomb; and they cried one to another: “Come, O friends, and with fragrant spices let us anoint the buried body of the Bearer of Life Who hath raised up the flesh of fallen Adam which lieth in the tomb. Come, let us make haste like the Magi: let us offer worship and bring myrrh as a gift, not to One wrapped in swaddling clothes, but wound in a shroud; and let us lament and cry aloud: Arise, O Master, Who givest resurrection to the fallen!”

Sessional hymn of the Blind Man, in Tone VIII: Special Melody: Of the Wisdom…—

Passing by, the Master and Creator of all came upon a blind man sitting by the way, who wept and said: “I have never in my life beheld the sun shining or the light of the radiant moon. Wherefore, I cry unto Thee: O Thou Who wast born of the Virgin and enlightenest all things, enlighten me, in that Thou art compassionate, that, falling down before Thee, O Master Christ my God, I may cry out: Grant me remission of transgressions in the multitude of Thy mercy toward us, O Thou Who lovest mankind.”

Glory…, Now & ever…: The foregoing is repeated. Reading.

Ode IV

Canon of Pascha

Irmos: Let the divinely eloquent Habbakuk stand with us on godly watch and show us the radiant angel, who clearly saith: “Today hath salvation come to the world, for Christ is risen, in that He is almighty!”

Christ appeared as of the male sex when He opened the womb of the Virgin, and though a man He was called the Lamb. Our Pascha is without blemish, for He partook not of corruption, and as true God He was called perfect.

Like a yearling lamb was Christ, our blessed crown, the purifying Pascha, slain of His own will for all; and from the tomb hath He shone forth upon us again as the beauteous Sun of righteousness.

David, the ancestor of God, leapt, dancing before the foreshadowing ark. O ye holy people of God, beholding the fulfillment of the images, let us be divinely glad, for Christ hath risen as One omnipotent.

Canon of the Theotokos

He Who fashioned Adam, thy forefather, O pure one, is made of thee. And today He hath demolished the dwelling-place of death by His own death, and hath illumined all with the divine rays of the resurrection.

Today thou didst behold Christ to Whom thou gavest birth, and Who most beautifully shone forth from the dead unto the salvation of all, O pure one who art goodly, blameless among women, and comely. Rejoicing, glorify Him with the apostles.

Canon of the Blind Man

Irmos: I heard report of Thee, O Lord, and was afraid; I understood Thy dispensation, and glorified Thee, Who alone lovest mankind.

Having been slain, O my Savior, as Life Thou didst in Thy great mercy impart life unto me who suffered death because of the tree; wherefore, I glorify Thee, O Word.

Abiding all-gloriously with the disciples, O Lord, Thou didst say to them: “Go and preach My resurrection everywhere!”

Assuring those who love Thee of Thine arising from the tomb, O Christ, Thou didst abide with them for many days, granting them joy.

Thou didst give eyes to the man born blind from his mother’s womb, O Lord, saying: “Go, wash, and gain sight, glorifying My divinity!”

Triadicon: O Trinity equal in worship and without beginning, indivisible in essence and distinguished as to Hypostasis: save all who faithfully glorify Thee with fear.

Theotokion: We glorify thy birthgiving, which transcendeth nature, O pure one, blessing thee with faith as the one who bore the God of all, O all-immaculate one.

Katavasia: I heard report of the power of the Cross, that paradise hath been opened thereby, and I cried aloud: Glory to Thy power, O Lord!

Ode V

Canon of Pascha

Irmos: Let us rise very early in the morning and offer hymnody to the Master instead of myrrh; and let us behold Christ, the Sun of righteousness, Who shineth forth life upon all.

Beholding Thy boundless compassion, O Christ, those held fast by the bonds of hades walked toward the light with gladsome steps, praising the eternal Pascha.

O ye light-bearers, let us approach Christ Who issueth forth from the tomb like a bridegroom, and together with the ranks who love the feasts of the Church let us celebrate the saving Pascha of God.

Canon of the Theotokos

The assembly of the pious is filled with joy and enlightened by the divine and light-bearing rays of the resurrection of thy Son, O all-pure Mother of God.

Thou didst not break the doors of the Virgin at Thine incarnation, O King of creation, nor didst thou break the seals of Thy tomb; wherefore, beholding Thee risen, Thy Mother rejoiced.

Canon of the Blind Man

Irmos: Anticipating my need, take pity on my wretched soul, which doth battle at night with the darkness of the passions, and shine forth in me the noetic sun of the day-star, that I may distinguish night from light.

Thou didst ascend the Tree, O Compassionate One, and with Thee didst raise up all men. Thou didst slay the adverse serpent, and give life to the creation of Thy hands, in that Thou art the one God of all.

Of Thine own will wast Thou laid in a tomb, O immortal King, and Thou didst empty all the kingdoms of hades, raising up the dead by Thy resurrection.

Iniquitous men slew Thee, Who didst work many wonders on earth, O Word; but as the only Almighty One, O Lord, Thou didst rise from the dead as Thou didst foretell, O Christ.

Thou didst open the eyes of Him Who had never seen perceptible light, didst enlighten the eyes of his soul, and didst cause him to glorify Thee, recognizing Thee as the Creator Who in His compassion made Himself manifest as man.

Triadicon: O ye faithful, let us all glorify the Trinity in Unity and the Unity in Trinity—the Father, the Son, and the upright Spirit: Who is truly the one God and Creator of all.

Theotokion: How didst thou give birth, O pure Virgin Mother, full of the grace of God, without having experienced a man? How dost Thou feed Him Who sustaineth all creation? He alone knoweth, the Creator and God of all.

Katavasia: Rising at dawn, we cry to Thee: Save us, O Lord! for Thou art our God, and we know none other than Thee.

Ode VI

Canon of Pascha

Irmos: Thou didst descend into the nethermost depths of the earth, and didst shatter the ever-lasting bars which held those who were bound, O Christ, and like Jonah from the sea monster Thou didst rise from the tomb on the third day.

Thou didst arise from the tomb, maintaining the seals intact, O Christ Who in Thy birth didst not break the seal of the Virgin; and thou hast opened unto us the gates of paradise.

O my Savior, Thou living and unsacrificed Victim, Who of Thine own will didst as God bring Thyself to the Father, with Thyself Thou didst resurrect Adam, the father of our whole race, when Thou didst arise from the tomb.

Canon of the Theotokos

That which of old was held fast by death and corruption hath been led up to life incorruptible and everlasting by Him Who became incarnate of thine all-pure womb, O Virgin Theotokos.

He Who descended into thy pure womb, and dwelt therein, becoming incarnate in manner past understanding, O pure one, descended into the uttermost depths of the earth and raised up Adam with Himself, arising from the tomb.

Canon of the Blind Man

Irmos: As Thou didst deliver the prophet from the beast, O Lord, so lead me up from the abyss of unrestrained pleasures, that I may dare to lift up mine eyes upon Thy holy temple.

O Master Who wast crucified with thieves, O Lord Who lovest mankind, from the soul-corrupting passions, those evil thieves, Thou hast delivered all who together hymn Thy crucifixion and arising.

In a tomb they placed Thee dead, devoid of breath, O Christ Who dost breathe life into all the dead; and Thou didst arise, O Lord, Who hast emptied all the graves by Thy divine power, O Word.

After Thine arising, O Christ, Thou didst say to Thy friends: “Remain in Jerusalem, until ye are invested with invincible power and sure hope from on high.”

Making clay, Thou didst anoint the eyes of the man blind from birth, and didst grant sight unto him, who hymneth Thine ineffable power, whereby Thou hast saved the world, O Word.

Triadicon: O Unity in three Hypostases—O unbegotten Father, begotten Son, and proceeding Spirit-thrice-holy Lord, one essence and power: save all Thy people.

Theotokion: Who can describe thy mighty acts, O pure one? For in supernatural manner thou gavest birth in the flesh unto God Who through thee delivereth the world from all sin, O most immaculate Virgin.

Katavasia: The abyss engulfed me, and the sea monster became a tomb for me; yet I cried unto Thee Who lovest mankind, and Thy right hand saved me, O Lord.

Kontakion of the Blind Man, in Tone IV: Special Melody: Thou didst appear today…—

Blind in the eyes of my soul, I come to Thee, O Christ, like the man blind from birth, and cry out to Thee with repentance: Thou art the all-radiant Light of those in darkness!

Ikos: Grant me a stream of ineffable wisdom and higher understanding, O Christ, Thou Light of those in darkness and Guide of the deceived, that, wretch that I am, I may be able to declare Thy wonders which the divine book of the Gospel hath taught the world: that is, the miracle of the blind man. For, blind from birth, he received material eyes as well as spiritual eyes, crying out with faith: Thou art the all-radiant Light of those in darkness!

Synaxarion

On this day, the sixth Sunday of Pascha, that of the man born blind, we celebrate the miracle of our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ, which was likewise worked by water, like that of the Samaritan woman and the paralytic.

Stichoi: O Bestower of light, Who art Light from Light,/ O Word, Thou givest eyes unto him who was blind from birth.

It happened in this way: When Christ, conversing with the Jews, revealed Himself to be equal with the Father, and said: “Before Abraham was, I am,” they cast stones at Him; but, withdrawing from thence, He came upon a blind man stumbling along. He had been born thus, and had only empty eye-sockets, his eyeballs having sunk in. In such a condition was he when the Savior encountered him. The disciples (who had heard during the healing of the paralytic, “Lo, thy sins are forgiven; sin no more,” and also that the sin of parents falleth upon the children) asked Him: “Rabbi, who sinned—he, or his parents—that he was born blind?” In other words, there had spread (even among the Jews) the Epicurean teaching of the pre-existence of souls, and that it is because of sin that they come to dwell, though immaterial, in bodies. Dismissing all such concepts, Christ said: “It is not for such a reason, but that the works of God (that is, of Me) might be wrought in him,” for it was not the Father Who was being spoken of. For the words “but that” do not stand in a probative sense, but indicate the ultimate reason. And having said this, Christ spat upon the ground, made clay of the spittle, and anointed the blind man’s eye sockets; and then commanded him to go to Siloam and wash, that He might thereby show that He is the One Who in the beginning took dust from the ground and fashioned man. And as the eyeball is of all the bodily members the most excellent, He fashioned it out of nothing, showing thereby that He giveth movement to the power of the soul. He did not anoint the blind man with water, but with spittle, that it might be understood that all the power of grace dependeth on the spittle of the mouth, and because He wanted to send him to Siloam. And He commanded him to wash so that he would not ascribe curative power to the dirt and clay of that place. He sent him to Siloam so that there would be many witnesses to his healing; for, walking about with clay smeared on his eyes, he would encounter many. There are those who say that he did not wash off the clay made with spittle, but that the clay itself, with the addition of water, reformed his eyeballs. Siloam, by interpretation, means “sent”; for this pool was located outside the walls of Jerusalem. In the time of Hezekiah, when enemies were laying siege to the city and had taken Siloam, water ceased to flow there. Before the besieged dug wells and cisterns, it was thus: if anyone was sent on the orders of Isaiah, the water suddenly rose up and became accessible; but if anyone came on his own, or on orders from the enemy, the stream was not accessible. For this reason, Christ, wanting to show that He is God, sent thither the blind man, and he immediately received sight there. There are those who think that Siloam means “sent” because this blind man was sent by Christ. And thus, the blind man who washed received eyes and sight through some ineffable might, though the sufferer himself did not understand the mystery. His neighbors and acquaintances, seeing him supernaturally provided with sight, were astonished; but the blind man assured them that he was the very one who had long been blind. And when they asked him the cause of his sightedness, he declared Christ to be the healer of his affliction. As soon as the Pharisees heard of the extraordinary miracle, they again began to accuse the Savior of blasphemy for failing to keep the Sabbath; for the miracle worked upon the blind man was performed, as usual, on the Sabbath. And so a division arose among them, so that some said that Jesus, judging from His working of wonders, was from God, while others maintained that He was not from God, since He did not observe the Sabbath. Then those who held Him in repute asked the blind man: “What sayest thou of Him?” He declared Him to be a prophet, which was among them a great honor. But again they expressed doubt that Christ had given healing to one who was completely blind. Then, as they did not believe the neighbors, they summoned the blind man’s parents; yet the more they tried to cast suspicion over the event, the more light they shone upon it, for the parents confirmed all the circumstances, although, fearing lest they would be cast out of the synagogue, they cited the fact that the blind man was of age to speak for himself Then the Pharisees again turned to the blind man, saying: “Give glory to God, because this healing was not worked by Christ; for He is a sinner, since He violates the Sabbath.” But desiring to show that He is God indeed, he said: “This I know not; I do know one thing: that I was completely blind, but now, through Him, I enjoy sight.” Again they asked him how He had opened his eyes. But, vexed, he maintained not lightly, but sincerely, that if He were not of God, He would not have been able to work such a miracle. Then they began to reproach him for supposedly considering himself His disciple, and for saying that no one had ever opened the eyes of one born blind, for although others had restored sight to blind people, no one had ever done so to one who had been born blind. And so they mocked him and drove him from the synagogue. Afterward, Jesus came upon him and said to him: “Dost thou believe in the Son of God?” When he learned that it was the Son of God Who was speaking with him and Whom he saw (since before he had not seen Him, since he was blind), he worshipped him and became His disciple, proclaiming His benefactions. One may explain this in another sense, namely: that the blind man signifieth the gentile peoples whom Christ found, passing by, that is, living on earth, and not in heaven. In other words, Christ came down for the Hebrew people, but as He passed by He also came upon the gentiles. And spitting upon the ground, and making clay, He anointed—that is, He taught them from the beginning, because He came down to earth like a drop of rain, and became incarnate of the holy Virgin, and afterward preached divine baptism, which Siloam signifieth. Thus, the Christian people from the gentiles boldly preacheth Christ before everyone, endureth persecution and torture, but afterwards He is not accepted and glorified by His own people. In Thine infinite mercy, O Christ our God, Bestower of light, have mercy and save us. Amen.

Ode VII

Canon of Pascha

Irmos: He Who delivered the children from the furnace, having become man suffereth as a mortal, and by suffering clotheth mortal splendor in incorruption. He alone is the blessed and most glorious God of our fathers!

With myrrh the godly-minded women hastened after Thee, Whom they sought with tears as one dead; and they worshipped Thee, rejoicing, as the living God; and announced the mystic Pascha unto Thy disciples, O Christ.

We celebrate the slaying of death, the destruction of hades, the beginning of a new and everlasting life; and, leaping up, we hymn the Cause thereof, the only blessed and most glorious God of our Fathers.

Truly sacred, most festive and radiant is this saving night, the herald of the luminous day of the resurrection, whereon the timeless Light hath in the flesh shone forth upon all from the tomb.

Canon of the Theotokos

Slaying death, thy Son, O most immaculate one, hath today granted abiding life unto all the dead forever—He Who is the only blessed and all-glorious God of our fathers.

He Who is King over all creation, becoming man, dwelt in thy womb, O thou who art full of the grace of God; and having endured crucifixion and death, He hath arisen as God, raising us up with Himself, in that He is omnipotent.

Canon of the Blind Man

Irmos: The prayer of the children quenched the fire; and the clew-bearing furnace was the herald of a miracle, for it neither consumed nor burned those who hymned the God of our fathers.

When Thou wast lifted up upon the Tree, O Savior, the sun went out, the earth was troubled, all creation shook, and the dead arose from the graves.

When Thou didst arise from the dead, O King, Thou didst raise with Thyself the souls who slept there, who glorify Thy power, wherewith the bonds of death were loosed.

Early did the choir of women come to anoint Thee, O Lord; but when they learned that Thou hadst arisen, they rejoiced with the sacred disciples. By them grant us cleansing of evils.

With clay didst Thou anoint the eyes of the blind man, and Thou didst command him to go to Siloam; and having washed, he was given sight, glorifying Thee, O Christ, King of the ages.

Triadicon: Let us hymn the unoriginate Father, the Son Who is equally without beginning, and the all-holy Spirit: Holy, Holy, Holy art Thou, O God, King of all!

Theotokion: In giving birth thou wast shown to be a pure Virgin, for thou gavest birth unto God Who hath restored nature by His power, O all-pure one. Him do thou beseech, that we all be saved.

Katavasia: Blessed is the God of our fathers, Who saved the children who chanted unto Him in the fiery furnace.

Ode VIII

Canon of Pascha

Irmos: This is the appointed and holy day, the one Icing and lord of Sabbaths, the feast of feasts and solemnity of solemnities, whereon we bless Christ forever.

On this auspicious day, come, let us partake of the new fruit of the vine of divine gladness, and of the kingdom of Christ, praising Him as God forever.

Cast thine eyes about thee, O Sion, and behold: for, lo! from the west and from the north, from the sea and from the east, have thy children come unto thee like divinely radiant luminaries, blessing Christ in thee forever.

Triadicon: O Father Almighty, and Word, and Spirit, Essence united in three Hypostases, transcending existence and all-divine! In Thee have we been baptized, and Thee do we bless for all ages!

Canon of the Theotokos

Through thee did the Lord come into the world, O Virgin Theotokos; and breaking open the belly of hades, He hath given resurrection to us mortals; wherefore, He is blessed forever.

Having cast down all the dominion of death by His resurrection, thy Son, O Virgin, hath, as mighty God, raised us up with Himself and deified us; wherefore, we praise Him forever.

Canon of the Blind Man

Irmos: Ye assembly of angels and council of men, ye priests, hymn the King and Creator of all! Ye Levites, bless Him! Ye people, exalt Him supremely for all ages!

Beholding Thee suspended upon the Cross, O Christ King of all, Who dost cause all creation to change by fear, the ranks of angels were filled with awe, hymning Thy love for mankind.

When hades beheld Thee below, it groaned and quickly surrendered the dead whom it had kept there from ages past, O Christ, and who hymn Thy love for mankind.

O Christ Who didst work excellent miracles, of Thine own will Thou wast uplifted upon the Cross, and Thou didst join the dead, O Thou Who didst slay hades, and with valor didst release all the imprisoned.

Thou gavest eyes unto the blind man who approached Thee, O Christ, and didst command him to go to the Pool of Siloam, to wash and receive sight, that he might proclaim Thee to be God, Who was made manifest in the flesh for the salvation of the world.

We bless the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit: the Lord.

Triadicon: O indivisible Trinity, unconfused Unity, O God of all things and Creator of all: from all temptations save those who hymn and worship Thy dominion with faith.

Theotokion: O all-pure Virgin full of the grace of God, ever entreat thy Son, that He not put me to shame on the day of sentencing, but number me among His chosen lambs.

We praise, we bless…; and the katavasia. We do not chant the Magnificat.

Katavasia: God the Son, Who was begotten of the Father before the ages, and in latter times became incarnate of the Virgin Mother, hymn, O ye priests! Ye people, exalt Him supremely for all ages!

Ode IX

Canon of Pascha

Irmos: Shine, O shine, thou new Jerusalem, for the glory of the Lord hath shone upon thee! Dance now and be glad, O Sion! And do thou delight, O pure Theotokos, in the rising of thine Offspring.

O Thy divine and beloved voice most sweet! For Thou didst truly promise to be with us until the end of the world, O Christ. Having this as the confirmation of our hope, let us rejoice, O ye faithful.

O Christ, Thou great and most sacred Pascha! O Wisdom, Word and Power of God! Grant that we may more truly partake of Thee in the never-waning day of Thy kingdom.

Canon of the Theotokos

Together we, the faithful, bless thee, O Virgin: Rejoice, O portal of the Lord! Rejoice, O animate city! Rejoice, thou for whose sake the Light hath now shone forth on us from the resurrection of the dead of Him Who was born of thee.

Be glad and rejoice, O divine portal of the Light, for Jesus Who descended into the tomb hath shone forth, shining forth more brightly than the sun, and illumining all the faithful, O divinely joyous Mistress.

Canon of the Blind Man

Irmos: In that the Mighty One hath done great things to thee, revealing thee to be a pure virgin even after giving birth, as thou gavest birth to thine own Creator without seed, we therefore magnify thee, O Theotokos.

Thou wast nailed to the tree of the Cross, O Christ God, didst vanquish all the adverse princes of the enemy, and didst annul the primal curse, O Savior; wherefore, we magnify Thee as is meet. When hades beheld Thee below with Thy soul, O Word, it groaned and in fear released all the dead who acknowledged the dominion of Thine authority; wherefore, we magnify Thee as is meet.

Seeing Thee working signs and awesome wonders, in envy the assembly of the Jews slew Thee, Who madest hades captive by Thy resurrection, and dost raise all up, as One mighty.

Thou didst arise from the dead, as Thou didst say, O Bestower of life, and didst appear to the holy disciples after Thine arising, O Thou Who workest wonders and gavest eyes to the blind. With them do we magnify Thee forever.

Triadicon: I honor the light of the Father, I glorify the light of the Son, and I hymn the light of the upright Spirit—the one, indivisible Light Who is known in three Hypostases, God, the King of all creation.

Theotokion: Shown to be more spacious than the heavens, O pure Virgin, thou didst contain God Who was circumscribed in the flesh, and gavest birth to the deliverance of all who hymn thee with undoubting faith.

Katavasia: With oneness of mind, we, the faithful, magnify thee, the Mother of God, who, in manner past understanding and recounting, ineffably gavest birth in time to the Timeless One.

Exapostilarion of Pascha —

Having fallen asleep in the flesh, as one mortal, O King and Lord, Thou didst rise on the third day, raising up Adam from corruption and abolishing death. O Pascha of incorruption! O salvation of the world!

Glory…, Exapostilarion of the Blind Man, in the same melody—

Enlighten, O Lord, my noetic eyes which have been blinded by dark sin, instilling humility, O Compassionate One; and wash me with tears of repentance.

Now & ever…: Another of the Blind Man: Special Melody: Hearken, ye women…—

As He passed by, our Savior came upon a blind man bereft of eyes, and having spat upon the ground and made clay, He anointed him and sent him to Siloam to wash. And when he had washed, he came, seeing Thy light, O my Christ.

On the Praises, 8 stichera: 7 of the resurrection, in Tone V—

O Lord, when the tomb had been sealed by the iniquitous, Thou didst issue forth from the grave, as Thou hadst been born of the Theotokos. Thine incorporeal angels did not understand how Thou hadst become incarnate, and the soldiers who guarded Thee did not sense when Thou didst arise. For both things were sealed for those who would examine them; but the wonders were revealed to those who worshipped the mystery with faith. Grant Thou joy and great mercy unto us who hymn it!

O Lord, Who didst break asunder the ever-lasting chains and rend apart the bonds of hades, Thou didst rise from the tomb, leaving Thy grave-clothes behind as a witness to Thy true resurrection on the third day; and Thou didst go before Thy disciples into Galilee, O Thou Who wast guarded in the cave. Great is Thy mercy, O unapproachable Savior! Have mercy and save us!

The women, O Lord, hastened to the tomb to see Thee, O Christ, Who suffered for our sake; and when they were come, they found an angel seated upon the stone, which had rolled away in fear; and he cried out to them, saying: “The Lord is risen! Tell ye the disciples that He hath risen from the dead, saving your souls!”

O Lord, as Thou didst come forth from the sealed tomb, so didst Thou enter in to Thy disciples while the doors were fast shut, showing them the bodily sufferings which Thou didst undertake, O long-suffering Savior. Thou didst endure wounding as One from the seed of David, and didst free the world as the Son of God. Great is Thy mercy, O unapproachable Savior! Have mercy and save us!

O Lord, King of the ages and Creator of all, Who for our sake didst accept crucifixion and burial in the flesh, that Thou mightest free us all from hades: Thou art our God, and we know none other than Thee.

O Lord, who can describe Thine all-radiant wonders? Or who can declare Thy dread mysteries? For, having become man for our sake, as Thou Thyself didst desire, Thou didst reveal the might of Thy power; for by Thy Cross Thou didst open paradise to the thief, and by Thy burial Thou didst break the chains of hades, and by Thy resurrection Thou hast enriched all things. O compassionate Lord, glory be to Thee!

Arriving at Thy tomb very early in the morning, the myrrh-bearing women sought to anoint God the immortal Word with myrrh; but, informed by the words of the angel, they returned with joy and declared openly to the apostles that Thou hadst risen, O Life of all, and granted the world cleansing and great mercy.

And one sticheron of the Blind Man: Idiomelon, in Tone VIII—

Stichos: Look upon me and have mercy on me.

O Christ God, Who in the lovingkindness of Thy compassions becamest incarnate, by dust Thou didst vouchsafe divine radiance unto him who was deprived of light from his mother’s womb, O Thou Who didst touch him with thy creative fingers. And now, O Bestower of light, do Thou Thyself enlighten the eyes of our souls, in that Thou alone art the Bestower of abundant gifts.

Glory…, in Tone VIII—

Who can tell of Thy powers, O Christ? Or who can reckon the multitudes of Thy wonders? For in Thy goodness Thou wast revealed on earth to be both God and man; and didst grant twofold healing unto the infirm. For Thou didst not merely open the bodily eyes of him who was blind from his mother’s womb, but the eyes of his soul as well. Wherefore, he confessed Thee to be the hidden God, Who grantest great mercy unto all.

Now & ever…: Theotokion, in Tone II—

All-blessed art thou, O Virgin Theotokos, for by Him Who became incarnate through thee hath hades been made captive, Adam restored, the curse annulled, Eve set free, death slain, and we have been given life. Wherefore, chanting, we cry aloud: Blessed is Christ God Who hath been thus well pleased! Glory to Thee!

Great Doxology, and the resurrectional troparion—

Today hath salvation come to the world! Let us chant unto Him Who hath risen from the tomb, the Author of our life; for having destroyed death by death, He hath granted us victory and great mercy.

And the dismissal.

Glory…, Now & ever…: Evangelical sticheron, in Tone VIII—

The tears of Mary were not shed in vain; for, behold! she was counted worthy to have angels instruct her and Jesus Himself to appear to her. But as a weak woman, she thought earthly thoughts. Wherefore, she was turned away and commanded not to touch Christ. Yet was she sent as a herald to Thy disciples, bearing glad tidings to them and announcing Thine ascension to the portion of the Father. With her count us worthy, O Lord and Master, of Thine appearance.

On the Beatitudes, 8 troparia: 4 for the resurrec­tion, in Tone V—

Believing Thee to be God, O Christ, the thief on the cross confessed Thee in a pure manner, crying out from the depths of his heart: Remember me in Thy kingdom, O Lord! Together let us hymn as Savior and Creator Him Who on the tree of the Cross budded forth life for our race and caused the curse which originated from the tree to wither up.

When Thou wast crucified between two condemned thieves, O Christ, one of them blasphemed Thee and was justly damned, while the other confessed Thee and dwelleth now in paradise.

When they had come to the choir of the apostles, the honorable women cried out: Christ is risen! Let us worship Him as Master and Creator!

And 4 from Ode VI of the Canon of the Blind Man.

After the entrance, the troparion of the resurrection; Glory…, the kontakion of the Blind Man; Now & ever…, the kontakion of Pascha.

Prokimenon, in Tone VIII—

Make your vows and pay them to the Lord our God.

Stichos: In Judæa is God known; His name is great in Israel.

Reading from the Acts of the Apostles, §38 [16:16-34]

In those days, as the apostles were going to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met them, who brought her masters much gain by soothsaying. The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying: “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who show unto us the way of salvation.” And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit: “I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out the same hour. And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers, and brought them to the magistrates, saying: “These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, and teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.” And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bands were loosed. And the keeper of the prison, awaking out of his sleep and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying: “Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.” Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, and brought them out, and said: “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.

Alleluia, in Tone VIII—

Stichos: Look upon me and have mercy on me. Stichos: My steps do Thou direct according to Thy saying.

Gospel According to John, §34 [9:1-38]

At that time, as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from his birth. And His disciples asked Him, saying: “Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered: “Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. I must work the works of Him Who sent Me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” When He had thus spoken, He spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and He anointed the eyes of the blindman with the clay, and said unto him: “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is by interpretation, Sent). He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing. The neighbors therefore, and those who before had seen him who was blind, said: “Is not this he who sat and begged?” Some said: “This is he”: others said: “He is like him”: but he said: “I am he.” Therefore said they unto him: “How were thine eyes opened?” He answered and said: “A man who is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me: ‘Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash;’ and I went and washed, and I received sight.” Then said they unto him: “Where is he?” He said: “I know not.” They brought to the Pharisees him who aforetime was blind. And it was the Sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes. Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them: “He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see.” Therefore said some of the Pharisees: “This man is not of God, because He keepeth not the Sabbath day.” Others said: “How can a man who is a sinner do such miracles?” And there was a division among them. They said unto the blind man again: “What sayest thou of Him, that He hath opened thine eyes?” He said: “He is a prophet.” But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him who had received his sight. And they asked them, saying: “Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? How then cloth he now see?” His parents answered them and said: “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind: but by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself.” These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that He was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue. Therefore said his parents: “He is of age; ask him.” Then again called they the man who was blind, and said unto him: “Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner.” He answered and said: “Whether He be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.” Then said they to him again: “What did He to thee? How opened He thine eyes?” He answered them: “I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? Will ye also be His disciples?” Then they reviled him, and said: “Thou art His disciple; but we are Moses’ disciples. We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence He is.” The man answered and said unto them: “Why herein is a marvelous thing, that ye know not from whence He is, and yet He hath opened mine eyes. Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth His will, him He heareth. Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one who was born blind? If this man were not of God, He could do nothing.” They answered and said unto him: “Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us?” And they cast him out. Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said unto him: “Dost thou believe on the Son of God?” He answered and said: “Who is He, Lord, that I might believe on Him?” And Jesus said unto him: “Thou hast both seen Him, and it is He Who talketh with thee.” And he said: “Lord, I believe.” And he worshipped Him.

Communion verses—

Receive ye the Body of Christ; taste ye of the fountain of immortality.

Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise Him in the highest.

The service of the saint which falleth on this Sunday is chanted at Compline.